Into Phon Thong for a long internet session. Check progress of Jai's visa but Embassy is still saying received on 9 January. Someone has been doing some repairs on the road but it is now more dangerous than when there was just holes in the tarmac.Getting back to Khamnadie I decide to go for a ride and a look around. There is a small hill to the one side of the village that gives great views over towards the mountains near Mukdahan but today they are obscured by a dusty haze. Ride on past large rubber plantations. Am always surprised to see them up here as I would have thought that they would have grown better on lower land that held the water more - what do I know ?!!! Continue a little further than I have been before and come across an earth dam holding back a picturesque lake that would make a great picnic spot.Late afternoon go to the farm and discover that the saw makes cutting the bamboo a lot easier than the machette.